I guess I need to just complain and if anyone can give a hug....well, I'll take one via the computer!

I finally added up what we spend monthly out of pocket on our basic (meaning no extras) medical and it is more than our first and second mortgages combined.

It seems like we are living as cheap as we can but the medical really is killing us and that is just for when everyone is healthy.

I am having a pity party and just wanted to complain.

I think about what we'd be able to do to our debt (or savings for retirement) if we had normal medical expenses.

Ok, I needed to do that. I'll try to get out of the valley of pity now.

Michelle

:hug: :hug: :hug:
That's why my husband is in the military- it's not his dream job, but he is half way to retirement. Then he can work at his dream job and we will still have insurance. We NEED good insurance. I have had cancer and other medical problems that we can't imagine what we we do without good insurance coverage.

I don't know what advice to give other than I hope things get better.

Tawnya

:hug: :hug: :hug:
That's why my husband is in the military- it's not his dream job, but he is half way to retirement. Then he can work at his dream job and we will still have insurance. We NEED good insurance. I have had cancer and other medical problems that we can't imagine what we we do without good insurance coverage.

I don't know what advice to give other than I hope things get better.

Tawnya
Tawnya,

Thank you. :)

Your plan is excellent!!! One of my dh's close high school pals is doing the same thing and I think he is only a few years from retirement (Marines) and he is going to go into teaching when he is retired from the military.

If we had known we'd have the children we have with the medical they have, I think we'd have gone that route to be honest. With what you mentioned, you know what kind of expenses I'm talking about. If you need some prayers for your health, let me know, OK?

thank you again....it is nice to have someone understand and I am also so glad your family went the route you did with the career and medical.

Michelle

We are blessed that our children are strong and healthy. We never know though what plan God has in store for us. Even though medical costs are so high doesn't it make you glad though that we live in a day and age and country that we do have the medical miracles we see each day. Had a been born a generation or two earlier I may not be living at this time (after having an emergency c-section with my twins and five rounds of chemo after finding my cancerous tumor). People are living today that be it any other time they may not be.

As a family that often lives paycheck to paycheck- money isn't everything. I think the "average" American family struggles finacially. But as long as we are prepare "spiritually" we will be able to handle what ever God has in store for us.

Sometimes I worry because we are spending 20 years in the Army and will have no house of our own to show for it all (it's easier to rent because there is no guarentee of how long we will be in one area, or if a house we buy would even sell....) but we try to save money when we can and then we can put a down payment on a house when we do get out of the Army.

Well, I hear a bit too much giggling coming from the other room, better go see what's up.....

Tawnya

We are blessed that our children are strong and healthy. We never know though what plan God has in store for us.
Thank you for that reminder. :) You are so correct!

Even though medical costs are so high doesn't it make you glad though that we live in a day and age and country that we do have the medical miracles we see each day. Had a been born a generation or two earlier I may not be living at this time (after having an emergency c-section with my twins and five rounds of chemo after finding my cancerous tumor). People are living today that be it any other time they may not be.

That is also a good reminder. You know, I would not be here either from my first childbirth had I been born at a earlier time. How I forgot that in my pity party! I'm really glad for your posts to this thread......

As a family that often lives paycheck to paycheck- money isn't everything. I think the "average" American family struggles finacially. But as long as we are prepare "spiritually" we will be able to handle what ever God has in store for us.

Amen to that! Again, thank you....your responses are what I needed to hear. I do have peace from God and know He is guiding my (and my family) life and need to rest in that and not let that busy mind start worrying...which does no good spiritually or any other way.

Sometimes I worry because we are spending 20 years in the Army and will have no house of our own to show for it all (it's easier to rent because there is no guarentee of how long we will be in one area, or if a house we buy would even sell....) but we try to save money when we can and then we can put a down payment on a house when we do get out of the Army.

Well, I hear a bit too much giggling coming from the other room, better go see what's up.....

Tawnya

Tawnya, Thanks again. You know what? I think I could use a in-real-life friend who brings these reminders to me like you have in your responses. Hey, thank you for taking the time with me. I'm now getting offline with a smile and renewed peace from your reminders as to who I am trusting. ;)

Michelle

:hug: I'm so glad Tawnya helped you feel better already.

It's frustrating to spend so much on medical.

Have you looked into waiver programs? Often there is a Developmental Disorders waiver and/or a Katie Beckett aka TEFRA waiver that pays for the child's medical *regardless* of the parents' income or assets. They only count the child's income/assets. It was a big factor when we moved here - first, Medicaid coverage itself goes up to $60,000 income for a family of four,and then if you exceed that and have a child with significant special needs you may be eligible for the Katie Beckett waiver.

Just something to throw out there - you may have looked into it already, but I personally had *no idea* these programs were out there until I applied to grad school in Alaska last year.

Honestly, I can't even imagine how we would survive if we lived in the US. If I were you I'd look at moving to Canada. I'm serious. Imagine what you'd save?! The weather isn't as bad as everyone thinks!

Kerri

:hug: I'm so glad Tawnya helped you feel better already.

It's frustrating to spend so much on medical.

Have you looked into waiver programs? Often there is a Developmental Disorders waiver and/or a Katie Beckett aka TEFRA waiver that pays for the child's medical *regardless* of the parents' income or assets. They only count the child's income/assets. It was a big factor when we moved here - first, Medicaid coverage itself goes up to $60,000 income for a family of four,and then if you exceed that and have a child with significant special needs you may be eligible for the Katie Beckett waiver.

Just something to throw out there - you may have looked into it already, but I personally had *no idea* these programs were out there until I applied to grad school in Alaska last year.


No....the DD waivers are only for Developmentally Disabled children and our two with the chronic conditions are of normal intelligence. Wyoming does have a great waiver program for developmentally disabled children but they have quite strict guidelines. (our one son with Down syndrome finally got on it...but not until after we had a 2 week hospital stay on our dime! *lol*) I am thankful he is on that...but he is not one of the two children we have with the chronic conditions. Too much income for Medicaid (I tried). I wish they deducted our medical out of pocket expenses, then we'd quality for scads of programs. I need to remember and remind myself that I should be more thankful that we do have insurance at all.....when I think of all the people in our country that don't quality for any state help but also don't have any private insurance either. I think I can sometimes get feeling sorry for myself and be pretty self-centered. I guess you can see I"m feeling much better today. I am thankful that I have been able to get a decent part-time job, I guess when I look at all the blessings I see that they far outweigh the expenses we have medically, KWIM?

Thank you for responding. And for your suggestions too. :)

Michelle

Honestly, I can't even imagine how we would survive if we lived in the US. If I were you I'd look at moving to Canada. I'm serious. Imagine what you'd save?! The weather isn't as bad as everyone thinks!

Kerri

Kerri,

My husband and I were discussing that a while back. But how does a public school administrator break into that job market there??

I'm sure it is not much colder than here in Wyoming. :)

Michelle

Rather than move all the way to Canada, you just have to move to a state with a Katie Beckett waiver. :) Like Vermont! They need good public school administrators here for sure. Pay isn't great but housing is fairly cheap.

The Katie Beckett (aka TEFRA) waiver doesn't look at your income or assets to determine child's eligibility for Medicaid, only the *child's* income/assets. Your child does have to have a severe enough disability to qualify - I'm not sure what your kids have but for example, most kids with cystic fibrosis qualify. It's not restricted to developmental disabilities (in fact some states have excluded kids that only have a developmental disability from eligibility for a Katie Beckett waiver but most have a DD waiver for those kids).

I had a heck of a time finding a list of those states with Katie Beckett waivers back when we were planning our move. We knew Florida was not going to work for us for many reasons, but one *was* lack of affordable health care coverage for Jake. We were willing to move because we weren't happy there anyway, so I'm not saying it's for everyone - but gee, when you can move and not have to pay all those crazy costs - it's something to consider, no? The other factors I know are that it can be so tough to get everyone's needs met in school, and if you're well-rooted where you are, it's tough to pull up roots - we're still a little lonely here.

Also you'd want to make pretty sure that your kids qualified for the Katie Beckett waiver before actually moving - but I think a few phone calls to the states you'd consider moving to can do that.

Sorry - just throwing all this out there - since you said you were considering moving to Canada - your initial post didn't mention moving so I didn't want to push you, I know you're happy in Wyoming - but it just hurts to see you have to work so hard to pay for medical care. IMO our society owes it to our kids to pay for their medical care. It is NOT the individual families' responsibilities. It's society's responsibility to give all children AND adults reasonably priced medical care. IMO it is a crime for it to be any other way. Everyone should chip in via federal and state taxes to share the burden of cost. There is *no reason* medical care for anyone should cost more than 5% of their income.

Okay, I'm going to step off my soapbox now...LOL! But I don't think you should feel like you can't complain about medical costs. Those people that don't have any insurance - it's an even worse crime, is all! That they have to suffer without any health care! We call ourselves an "advanced" nation yet our own people are not cared for properly! It's ridiculous.

Boy do I agree.....that nobody should be paying more than 5% of their income. (we are between 18-22% monthly income....depending on if someone was sick that month or other emergency)

I really would love to see universal health care. So much! Or at least see our prescription drug costs go down...I'd be happy with just that for starters. :)

Thanks for point out other options and just being supportive in my complaining here about this.

Dh is going to try when he negotiates for his salary here in a couple months to get the school to pay for our monthly insurance preimum. (he was turned down last time) It will help when our daughter is off one of her medications....which she should be in another 2 years. There is also a chance that both of our childrens diseases could go into remission for good. (praying for that daily)

Thanks again,
Michelle

:hug: I really feel that paying that much is simply not fair. We as a society owe it to our kids to keep them healthy. I do also pray and advocate for universal health care for our country. I'll try not to rant, but it drives me insane that we can pay to subsidize Big Oil but we can't take care of our own.